by Donald Eng CTNewsJunkie
HARTFORD, CT — Was it nostalgia for 1980s television that resulted in a housing bill passing the Senate with bipartisan support? Maybe.
In a 29-7 vote Thursday, the state Senate passed Senate Bill 339, An Act Allowing Long-Term Rental of Bedrooms in a Single-Family Home As Of Right. The bill, nicknamed the Golden Girls bill after the television program featuring four women living as roommates in Miami, would remove a requirement for an owner-occupant of a single-family dwelling to receive approval to rent up to three bedrooms.
FILE PHOTO — Sen. Martha Marx, D-New London speaks in the State Capitol in Hartford, CT. Credit: Doug Hardy / CTNewsJunkie
“We’re facing a housing shortage, high rental costs and high levels of financial pressure among the public,” said Sen. Martha Marx, D-New London. “We need solutions that create new opportunities for affordable, reasonable housing, and that’s what this bill represents.”
Marx in a statement cited the classic sitcom, saying the show had demonstrated the advantages of renting bedrooms.
“It can offer connections to older renters and owners alike to make connections and come together, cohabitating instead of just coexisting,” she said. “Its changes are simple, but the changes it promises will make a real difference. I can’t wait until it becomes law.”
FILE PHOTO — State Sen. Rob Sampson, R-Wolcott, speaks during debate on a firearms industry responsibility bill on May 29, 2025. Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie
Republican Rob Sampson of Wolcott, the Senate’s ranking member of the Housing Committee, also backed the bill. It had previously passed out of that committee by a 17-1 vote.
Sampson, who described himself as a near 100% supporter of local control in planning and zoning issues, said in this case the state would be increasing individual property rights.
“Though it’s a state statute we would be creating, what we would be doing is we would be empowering the property owner, versus the planning and zoning department,” he said. “This bill is about a very specific thing, which is how someone is going to be able to use the interior of their single-family residential property.”
Sampson was one of four Republicans to support the bill. The others were Heather Somers of Groton, Ryan Fazio of Greenwich and Paul Cicarella of North Haven.
Opponents pointed to potential problems with utility bills and parking, and the ability of municipalities to regulate such living arrangements, among other objections.
FILE PHOTO — State Sen. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton, asks a question during debate on the state budget on June 3, 2025. Credit: Donald Eng / CTNewsJunkie
“We have to remember, the Golden Girls, it was a show. It wasn’t real,” said Sen. Jason Perillo of Shelton. “We live in a world of reality.”
Living arrangements have an impact on neighbors’ quality of life, he said.
He said in his suburban neighborhood he knew of a single-family home with six adults living in it.
“With those six individuals come eight cars, with a driveway that’s large enough for two,” he said.
FILE PHOTO — Sen. Jeff Gordon, R-Woodstock, discusses a bill to require towns to report housing construction permit activity to the state Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at the state Capitol in Hartford. Credit: Doug Hardy / CTNewsJunkie
State Sen. Jeff Gordon of Woodstock called the bill well-intentioned but poorly written.
“Just saying we’re going to do something for new housing may be catchy. It may look nice if somebody writes it up or posts it,” he said. “But what matters is are we doing right for the municipalities and doing right for and by the people.”
The bill now moves onto the state House of Representatives.